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minutes meeting date 2025-09-29 · fetched 2026-09-09 · 15379 characters · official file · plain text
BOCC Sept 29 2025 Public Hearing FREMONT COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING MINUTES September 29, 2025 Present for the meeting was: Commissioners Blair Dance, Rick Hill, and Mark Chandler Also attended by: Clerk Abbie Mace, Deputy Clerk Kim Fletcher, and Civil Attorney Blake Hall Commissioner Dance called the meeting to order and welcomed those in attendance. Emergency Management Keith Richey RE: Fire Restrictions – action item; DHS Grants – action item Mr. Richey discussed lifting burn restrictions on Wednesday, October 1st. Surrounding counties have lifted theirs, and the Forest Service have lifted theirs as well. Mr. Richey discussed DHS Grants. We get several recurring DHS grants throughout the year. The one we use for equipment and training is an SHSP grant. The states have to submit to FEMA what they plan on doing with those funds in each county. The deadline is Wednesday for these grants. FEMA has not sent any information to the state, so there is a good chance we won’t get this grant this year. It will be an inconvenience, but we’ve never relied on these funds for day to day functions so we will be ok. One other grant we have that is put towards his operating expenses, there hasn’t been any issue with those funds. FEMA has said they will continue on with that grant. The feeling from the states is that FEMA will just start delegating some of their responsibilities down to the states. He just received word from ITD that the highway intersection at 300 N will be permanently closed, and the cross intersection at 200 N will be closed, but acceleration and deceleration lanes will be added on each side of the highway to try to help make the road safer for drivers. We’ve had a few fatal accidents at these intersections since the last discussion with ITD about the highway and it was decided they needed to be closed and/or modified. Elections Clerk Bonita Sutton RE: Polling Location Approval – action item Ms. Sutton presented a list of the polling locations for the November 4, 2025 election for approval. We do not have any changes with our current polling locations. In the future, we will no longer have access to churches as polling locations, so we are currently looking for 5 new ADA compliant locations that we will be able to use as polling locations; Egin, Newdale, Wilford, Teton, and the Stake Center in St. Anthony which we use for 3 precincts. Clerk Mace stated we are not the only county this is affecting, so the Clerks are pushing a piece of legislation for the schools to close on election days so we can use the schools as polling locations and not be in conflict with the students in order to keep them safe. We have met with our school superintendent to talk about the May election. Commissioner Dance made a motion to accept the November 4, 2025 polling locations as presented by our Elections Clerk, Bonita Sutton. Commissioner Hill seconded the motion. A full voice vote was heard with all commissioners voting in favor. Commissioners RE: Executive Session IC 74-206(1)(a) – action item Commissioner Dance made a motion to go into executive session pursuant to IC 74-206(1)(a) To consider hiring a public officer, employee, staff member or individual agent, wherein the respective qualities of individuals are to be evaluated in order to fill a particular vacancy or need. This paragraph does not apply to filling a vacancy in an elective office or deliberations about staffing needs in general; at 11:10 a.m. Commissioner Hill seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken with Commissioner Dance voting “Aye”, Commissioner Hill voting “Aye”, and Commissioner Chandler voting “Aye”. Commissioner Dance declared the meeting open at 11:38 a.m. Commissioner Hill made a motion to approve the application of AngeLee Webster to serve on the Fair Board for a 2-year term. Commissioner Chandler seconded the motion. A full voice vote was heard with all commissioners voting in favor. Assessor Carol Blanchard RE: Purchase Contract for Eagleview Software – action item Ms. Blanchard presented a purchasing contract for the Eagleview Software. She has been in contact with Megan Riley; they have an opening to possibly to do a fall flight for us. She has provided Ms. Blanchard with a contract, and it was passed on to Mr. Hall to review. The cost will be $34,483.33 annually for the next 3 years. The contract will not start until they schedule the flight. Commissioner Chandler made a motion to accept the contract with Eagleview Software in the amount of $34,483.33 and authorize the Chairman to sign the contract. Commissioner Hill seconded the motion. A full voice vote was heard with all commissioners voting in favor. Public Hearing RE: Marysville Road Validation/Vacation – action item FREMONT COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PUBLIC HEARING Marysville Road Validation/Vacation: Ptn N 3663 E, Marysville Fremont County Courthouse/Commissioners Room September 29, 2025, 1:00 PM Present for the meeting was: Commissioners Blair Dance, Rick Hill, and Mark Chandler Also attended by: Clerk Abbie Mace, Deputy Clerk Kim Fletcher, Civil Attorney Blake Hall, Planning and Building Planner Sara Bowersox, and Planning and Building Administrator Tom Cluff. Commissioner Dance called the hearing to order, welcomed those in attendance, and introduced county employees in attendance. Commissioner Dance explained the purpose of the hearing and asked Clerk Abbie Mace if the hearing had been properly noticed. Clerk Mace stated that it had. Commissioner Dance asked if any of the Commissioners have a conflict with this hearing. Commissioners have no conflict. Commissioner Dance turned the time over to Planning and Zoning Administrator to discuss the purpose of this hearing. Planning and Zoning Planner Sara Bowersox discussed that this hearing is a combined road validation and vacation. The Commissioners will need to validate that this road existed on the original plat, and then they will need to determine the road is no longer needed and can be vacated. We do know the roads were all platted and dedicated to the town of Marysville in 1902. This section of road has never been maintained, and there is no indication from the public about wanting to start to maintain the road. There is nothing in the area that would be landlocked if this road was abandoned, so staff recommends the road be abandoned. They also recommend the plat be updated to reflect this change. Commissioner Dance asked if any of the petitioners would like to testify as to the validation of this road. Shawn Maupin, Shawna Maupin, Hayden Maupin, John Bates, and Joseph Corbett all agreed the road is a valid road on the Marysville plat, even though it has never been maintained. Commissioner Chandler made a motion to accept the staff report and history that this is a valid road. Commissioner Hill seconded the motion. A full voice vote was heard with all commissioners voting in favor. Commissioner Dance asked if anyone would like to testify to vacate the road, because no one on the sign up sheet indicated whether or not they would like to comment. Sean Maupin, Shawna Maupin, John Bates, Joseph Corbett, and Jess Brumfield would like to comment. Commissioner Dance explained the procedure of the hearing. Those who have signed up to comment are asked to state their full name and address for the record. Each person will have 5 minutes to comment. Clerk Mace will have a timer; after the timer goes off, they will need to quickly finish their comment so we can move on to the next person. The commissioners have 60 days to make a decision on this matter, so a decision may not be made today. PUBLIC COMMENT: Sean Maupin, 1353 N 3350 E, Ashton, ID. Mr. Maupin is for the vacation of this road. They had an opportunity to purchase the property next to Hwy 47 but a portion of the potato cellar sits on this road. It would need to be vacated in order for them to purchase it properly. Shawna Maupin, 1353 N 3350 E, Ashton, ID. Ms. Maupin also supports vacation of this road. The cellar obstructs the road so there really can’t be a road in this location anyway. John Bates, 3664 E 1325 N, Ashton, ID. Mr. Bates started this process 2 years ago when his tax evaluation showed smaller acreage than it should be. This road doesn’t exist and has never been maintained. Since there has never been a road there, there likely isn’t an easement there either. He would like to be able to build on what he thought was already part of his property. The neighbor to the south of him, if this road was ever established, it would run right through his garage. Joseph Corbett, 161 Walnut Street, Ashton, ID. Mr. Corbett would like to vacate this road. There are structures on the north and south ends of it, and its never been a functioning road. It may as well be vacated. Jess Brumfield, representing Harriman State Park and the Ashton-Tetonia Trail state Park. Mr. Brumfield stated that a portion of this road crosses the Ashton-Tetonia Trail State Park. They only want this to be brought to our attention so that if this road is vacated and there are any potential plans for building, building wouldn’t be able to occur on the state park portion of the property. Commissioner Dance stated that written comments would have to have been submitted to the County Clerk’s Office 8 days prior to the hearing. He asked if we have received any written comments. There were no written comments to submit to the record. Commissioner Dance stated that there will be no more public comment after this meeting. Commissioner Dance thanked everyone for the comments and their attendance. The hearing was closed at 1:26 p.m. by Commissioner Dance. Commissioner Hill felt that from what we have heard from those who testified, and the recommendations from our Staff, it’s never been a road, will never be a road, and it makes sense to vacate it. Commissioner Chandler stated it seems like a good cleanup item to him. Everyone who has testified today has the same feelings about the road being vacated. Commissioner Dance discussed a comment made in the Staff report. “On review of the facts, evidence, and comments received to date, staff recommends that the Board strongly consider vacating that portion of this road that lies between Highway 47 and East 1325 North” that the Board determined is a public road, but has never been developed as a public road, and there is no public interest in the continuation in this being a public right of way. Commissioner Hill made a motion to vacate N 3663 E, from Hwy 47 to E 1325 N, in the Marysville Township due to there not being any public need for this road, and adopt the staff recommendation as our Findings of Facts, Conclusion of Law and Decision. Commissioner Chandler seconded the motion. A full voice vote was heard with all commissioners voting in favor. Miscellaneous Commissioner Hill made a motion to approve the claims for September 29, 2025 as presented. Commissioner Chandler seconded the motion. A full voice vote was heard with all commissioners voting in favor. Commissioner Chandler made a motion to approve the minutes from September 22, 2025 as amended. Commissioner Hill seconded the motion. A full voice vote was heard with all commissioners voting in favor. Commissioner Hill made a motion to approve the 2025-2026 Retail Alcoholic Beverage License for: #42 Elk Creek Station LLC #43 Shotgun Bar Commissioner Chandler seconded the motion. A full voice vote was heard with all commissioners voting in favor. Commissioner Hill presented paint bids for the Courthouse paint project. These are for next summer from Special Effects Painting. The first is for the exterior of the courthouse in the amount of $54,327.00. The second bid is to paint the new annex building after the removal of the awning and replacement of some of the stucco, in the amount of $13,856.00. Commissioner Hill made a motion to approve the 2 painting bids for Special Effects Painting next June, the first for the Courthouse Exterior in the amount of $54,327.00, and the second for the New Annex Building in the amount of $13,856.00, to come out of the ARPA monies. Commissioner Chandler seconded the motion. A full voice vote was heard with all commissioners voting in favor. Commissioner Hill presented bids for office equipment for the north annex building. He has 2 bids. The first is for desks and office tables and chairs in the total amount of $3,981.29 from Amazon. The second is from Bingham & Sons for a fridge and microwave in the amount of $1,092.95 Commissioner Hill made a motion to approve the bid from Amazon for desks and chairs in the amount of $3,981.29, and from Bingham & Sons for a refrigerator and microwave in the amount of $1,092.95, with these each being funded from the ARPA monies. Commissioner Chandler seconded the motion. A full voice vote was heard with all commissioners voting in favor. Commissioners continued the discussion about the Mack’s Inn/Forest Service Lease covering the RV Dump Property and transferring it to the City of Island Park. This item was postponed until another meeting in order to include Public Works Director Brandon Harris. Commissioner Dance presented a collection of photos of the Fun Farm Bridge. This item was also moved to another meeting. Clerk Mace presented LID Lien release for County LID #2002-1. Commissioner Hill made a motion to release Last Chance LID #2002-1 as presented. Commissioner Chandler seconded the motion. A full voice vote was heard with all commissioners voting in favor. Commissioners reviewed a Supplemental Agreement for the South Teton River Bridge from Forsgren Associates Inc in the total amount of $1,248,095.00. Commissioner Dance made a motion to approve the Chairman to sign the South Teton River Bridge agreement with Forsgren Associates in the amount of $1,248,098.00. Commissioner Chandler seconded the motion. A full voice vote was heard with all commissioners voting in favor. Commissioners reviewed Pay App #9 for the Last Chance WWTP in the amount of $1,130,284.00. Commissioner Hill made a motion to approve pay app #9 for GSE Construction for the Last Chance WWTP in the amount of $1,130,284.00, and approve Chairman Dance to sign the reimbursement documents when we receive them. Commissioner Chandler seconded the motion. A full voice vote was heard with all commissioners voting in favor. Clerk Mace discussed budgeting needs. We just approved the FY2026 budget, and she found a few errors. She met with Brandon Harris because the errors are in Road and Bridge and in Sewer. Adjustments have been made within their budgets to correct those errors. Commissioner Dance made a motion to approve the Road and Bridge line item changes, and Sewer line item changes to be added at the end of next fiscal year. Commissioner Chandler seconded the motion. A full voice vote was heard with all commissioners voting in favor. Commissioner Hill made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 1:58 p.m. Commissioner Chandler seconded the motion. A full voice vote was heard with all commissioners voting in favor. There being no further business to come before the board the meeting was adjourned. _________________________________ Blair Dance, Chairman Fremont County Commissioner Attest: _____________________________ Abbie Mace, Clerk HISTORY Recorded by Min. 610022 Public Hearing 09-29-2025 on 10/6/2025
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